New Haven man hurt after fiery weekend crash on Route 8 in Litchfield

Published 1:11 pm, Monday, February 15, 2016

Photo: Journal Register Co.

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Photo courtesy of Teresa BerryA tanker truck carrying gasoline and diesel fuel crashed into an SUV early Saturday on Route 8 in Litchfield. The tanker didn't spill its load but the front of the cab did catch fire. less

Photo courtesy of Teresa BerryA tanker truck carrying gasoline and diesel fuel crashed into an SUV early Saturday on Route 8 in Litchfield. The tanker didn't spill its load but the front of the cab did catch ... more

Photo: Journal Register Co.

New Haven man hurt after fiery weekend crash on Route 8 in Litchfield

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LITCHFIELD >> Two men were taken to the hospital after a fully-loaded fuel tanker crashed into an SUV stopped in the middle of Route 8 then caught fire over the weekend.

The men both suffered minor injuries in the crash, which happened at about 4 a.m. Saturday on the northbound side of the highway near Exit 41, state police said in a press release.

Police said an Infiniti FX35 driven by a New Haven man, 40, had been stopped in the middle of the highway when the tractor-trailer tanker came up the highway behind it.

The truck driver, a man from Holyoke, Massachusetts, tried to swerve to the right to get around the stopped SUV but crashed into it from behind, severely damaging both vehicles.

The tanker didn’t spill any of the gasoline and diesel fuel it was carrying, but the cab burst into flames. Firefighters from Northfield, East Litchfield, and Harwinton were all reportedly sent to the scene and crews were able to put out the fire.

Thomaston Volunteer Ambulance took the SUV driver and the truck driver, 29, to Waterbury Hospital for treatment.

Police said they did not know why the SUV was stopped in the middle of the highway. The accident investigation is ongoing and anyone with information about what happened is asked to call Trooper First Class Robert Olechowski with Troop L in Litchfield at 860-626-7900.